Non-timber forest products based household industries and rural economy—a case study of jaypur block in bankura district, west bengal (india)

Abstract

Among the 22 blocks of the Bankura district, the Jaypur block occupies first position (5.81%, 2011) in the household industry sector which is also higher than district average (4.18%, 2011) and as well as the national average (3.81%, 2011). In this block, Sal leaf, Khat Bel and Churung Khati are the most economically important products among the available Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) and these are primarily used as raw materials in women dominated cottage industries for making of Sal plate and beads chain. The rural people of the Jaypur block have collected NTFPs such as Sal leaf and seed, Khat Bel, Churung Khati, Mushroom, fruits of Kendu and Mahul etc. from the nearest reserve forest area for income generation and fulfilling the demand of their household food. The main objective of this study is to explore the role of NTFPs based household industries in rural economy at micro-level. To fulfil this objective, primary data are mainly used and these are collected through purposive sampling method with the help of questionnaire survey, participatory observation and focused group discussion. The study reveals that women from the Scheduled Caste and Muslim communities are dominantly engaged within these industries with traditional tools, primitive technology and middle man based marketing system and contributed in household maintenance by sharing their income to remove the poverty and sustain their livelihood. Hence, implementation of micro-level planning with the co-ordination of local people and the administration would be effective to increase the economic return to the villagers in general and rural women in particular.